Union Members’ Bill of Rights

Despite the appearance of employee rights, the LMRDA specifically prohibits the Department of Labor from investigating potential violations of a union member’s rights. As a result, the Bill of Rights does little to aid members.

The LMRDA grants employees a right to participate in the union’s administration, elections, and meeting and freedom of speech and assembly, including:

Freedom to criticize union officials;

Freedom to distribute literature in front of the union hall;

Freedom to hold separate meetings without interference from union leadership;

Rights to secret ballot votes for rates of dues and assessments;

The right to sue the union;

Protection from improper union discipline and a right to due process during internal unions hearings, and;